Episode Summary
My guest today is Geison Moura. Geison is the founder and CEO of Stimulus Athletic, a Minneapolis-based sportswear supplier offering custom-made uniforms at affordable prices. He and I were introduced by our mutual friend, Andre Berenzon. In fact, you may remember Andre as a guest on episode 17 of the podcast.
Indeed, what’s unique about Geison is how his background as a professional footballer and later a coach led him to launch a sports apparel company. After signing his first professional contract in 2004 in Brazil, Geison moved to the United States in 2007. However, he ultimately settled in Minnesota, where he began his entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode, Geison and I talk about the life lesson he learned as a professional athlete. Moreover, we discuss how following one simple rule helped him turn his business into the success it is today. Additionally, we discuss how moving from team to team as a footballer helped him endure the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, especially in the early stages of Stimulus.
Later, Geison shares his advice for anyone starting a new business to keep inventory costs low and reduce risk. In addition, we discuss how staying very focused early on helped him later expand internationally and achieve nearly $1 million in sales this year.
Assembling a Small Business A-Team
Lastly, be sure to listen to the end. Geison shares why he believes it’s essential for entrepreneurs to surround yourself with experts rather than try to do everything yourself. Additionally, Geison describes the low point that motivated him to pay more attention to process and logistics. Ultimately, this allowed him to minimize costly mistakes and improve the customer journey.
So whether you’re a sports enthusiast, aspiring entrepreneur, or seasoned business owner, I think you’ll appreciate Geison’s candor and generosity in sharing his entrepreneurial experience. With that, I hope you enjoy this episode of The Retiring Entrepreneur Podcast with Geison Moura.
Episode Highlights
- [06:39] The life lesson Geison Moura learned as a professional athlete that has fueled the culture of Stimulus Athletics.
- [09:27] How Geison Moura assembled his small business A-Team.
- [12:07] Geison’s advice for anyone who wants to start a business, especially in retail.
- [17:16] Why Geison believes staying focused early on helped Stimulus later expand into international markets.
- [25:44] How Geison recharges himself to avoid burnout.
- [31:00] The low point that prompted Geison Moura to look closer at process and logistics to improve the customer experience and reduce costly mistakes.
- [35:04] Geison’s top priority when it comes to planning for his eventual exit and retirement.
Enjoy the Episode!
